TELL (ON) Synonyms: 85 Similar and Opposite Words

tell (on)

verb

Definition of tell (on)

as in to affect

to act upon (a person or a person's feelings) so as to cause a response the pressure of final exams is beginning to tell on the students in the dorm

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to talk

to give information (as to the authorities) about another's improper or unlawful activities detectives convinced the perpetrators in custody to tell on their associates

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tell (on)

Verb

Other governments, including the US, have their own rules and disclosure requirements, but beyond the breadth of the controls in China, the sheer number of people affected is striking – and reaches far beyond civil servants.

— Sylvie Zhuang, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026
That, like this year, was an El Niño year, when a warming of the Pacific near the equator increases Pacific hurricane activity and affects weather patterns across the globe.

— Jennifer Sinco Kelleher, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of affect

Verb

Instead of speaking only about the Beautiful Game, Eason would talk to Diomandé about his mother, who suffers from long-term health issues, and genuinely cared about the person behind the player.

— Ben Church, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
Founded in 2009, the group has bloomed into a small empire—we’re talking nearly 70 of the South’s favorite restaurants, hotels, bars, and cafes, plus another dozen or so in development—with thoughtful intention.

— Colleen McNally Arnett, Southern Living, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of talk

Verb

The outcome of this bellwether case is expected to significantly influence whether other states pursue similar legal actions against AI companies.

— Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026
Despite typically lower participation, voters casting ballots Tuesday said the primary remains an important opportunity to influence which candidates advance to the general election.

— Sergio Candido, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of influence

Verb

Clemson football posted a video on X in which Wilson, who walked on for the Tigers, informed his parents that he had just been awarded a scholarship.

— Hunter DeLauder, AJC.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Panettiere said that the writers and producers of the series used her experiences to inform her character’s storylines.

— Hilary Lewis, HollywoodReporter, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of inform

Verb

Drew Allar impresses in preseason debut against Packers The Steelers' third-round pick out of Penn State this past year went 10 for 13 for 154 yards and three touchdowns against the Green Bay Packers.

— Patrick Damp, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
Vesga’s casting came from an hour-long conversation Bialy and Scott had with him at Gelson’s after being impressed by his tape.

— Matt Minton, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of impress

Verb

Police report no injuries as of publication, but did warn traffic may be impacted.

— Matthew Ablon, Miami Herald, 15 Aug. 2026
Agrella said the move inside was to not have weather impact the event and that staggering the times allowed teams to have greater exposure to media members.

— Jack Murray, Boston Herald, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of impact

Verb

Onstage at the event, Bratt touched on the new movie’s storyline.

— Matt Minton, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026
The recall announcement directed consumers to wash and sanitize any containers that may have come into contact with the affected product, and wash and sanitize hands and utensils that may have touched the product.

— Mason Leib, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of touch

Verb

But Ezra Klein’s commentary on the movie did lead me to think about the broader issues the movie raises, which strike me as interesting and important.

— Fareed Zakaria, Washington Post, 21 Aug. 2026
Iran still strikes at tankers, and expects some form of control over the strait to endure even after a diplomatic settlement.

— Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of strike

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

tell off

tell (on)

tells

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“Tell (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tell%20%28on%29. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of tell (on)

verb

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